Red Sox Can Learn One Thing From Each 2024 MLB Playoff Team

The Boston Red Sox missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season by finishing 81-81 and third place in the American League East.

Boston saw more young players take steps forward, but playing baseball in October is the annual goal that is supposed to measure a successful season. The Red Sox have work to do to reach that point in 2025.

As for this fall, the Red Sox can surely take plenty of lessons from watching this year's postseason. In fact, here's something Boston can take from each of the 12 teams that qualified for the MLB playoffs in 2024.

NEW YORK YANKEES
Keep the bats booming.

New York's lineup is top-heavy, but that production from the big bats in their lineup is lethal. Aaron Judge had another monster season with 58 home runs while one of the league's special hitters Juan Soto found his swing at an elite level once again for a monumental 1-2 punch.

The Red Sox sported a top-10 offense in baseball for the seventh straight year, but Boston needs to find another hitter similar to Rafael Devers for opposing arms to plan around. Could someone like Triston Casas be that player for the Red Sox for a full season?

CLEVELAND GUARDIANS
Leads need relievers to lock them down.

Alex Cora challenged his relievers specifically to get stronger this offseason and specifically referenced the monster of a bullpen that the Guardians trot out.

Emmanuel Clase is virtually unhittable as Cleveland's closer, posting a ridiculous 0.61 ERA with 47 saves. The Guardians had six relievers make over 60 appearances and four make over 70 appearances. Those relievers are always available and consistently outstanding. Boston blew leads way too often in the second half of 2024 and should model their bullpen after the American League Central champions.

Kenley Jansen and Chris Martin head to free agency for the Red Sox, so the back end of the bullpen should look very different in 2025. Liam Hendriks and Justin Slaten have the stuff to pitch in high-leverage spots. Nonetheless, the Red Sox need more dominant arms for Cora to turn to.

HOUSTON ASTROS
Experience plays through 162 games.

The Astros were 25-33 entering June this season. Their championship core still found a way with the likes of Yordan Alvarez, Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman willing Houston to yet another AL West crown.

Boston will go next season as its core goes with Jarren Duran, Casas and Devers needing to set the tone on the field for the Red Sox. Adding veteran leadership and enhancing in-house voices also needs to be a key intangible.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES
Young cores spark when they're ready.

Gunnar Henderson stole the show in a talented young lineup with Adley Rutschman, Anthony Santander and the introduction of Jackson Holliday. The Orioles have their guys for the future and in a year where their pitching could falter even with ace Corbin Burnes, relying on their youth is paramount.

That truly applies to the Red Sox in 2025 when prospects Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, Kyle Teel and Marcelo Mayer could join the MLB club and make a difference toward postseason play.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Play to your home ballpark.

The Red Sox have not had a winning record at home since 2022 with unbelievable struggles at Fenway Park. Meanwhile, one AL team made the most of playing at home.

The Royals went 45-36 at Kauffman Stadium in 2024. Their best player shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. also played his best baseball at home, slashing .382/.441/.676 with 14 home runs and a 1.117 OPS in Kansas City this season.

DETROIT TIGERS
Make decisive moves.

The Tigers sold at the trade deadline with Jack Flaherty and Andrew Chafin heading out. Detroit trusted the players in the clubhouse under manager A.J. Hinch to get hot and that's exactly what happened. The Tigers went 34-20 after the trade deadline to defy the odds and earn a playoff berth for the first time in a decade.

Detroit made moves for the future and still found a way to capitalize on an opportunity in the moment.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Baseball starts and ends with starting pitching.

We talked about starting pitching for the Phillies in this piece last year.

Guess what? We'll do it again! They're that good and the Red Sox should notice how much of an impact aces truly make.

Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola continued to lead from the front while Cristopher Sanchez and Ranger Suárez developed into essential starters for a dominant rotation in Philadelphia. Starting pitching matters all season long and especially in October. No team enacts that like the Phillies, who may have their best chance to win their first World Series title since 2008.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Keep on running on the base paths.

Led by young speedsters such as Duran, Alex Cora loved the dynamic style the Red Sox played with at their best in the summer months of 2024. The Brewers rolled with that in the National League, ranking second in baseball with 217 stolen bases.

Boston tallied 144 and needs to play with its collective team speed again in 2025.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Every team needs its stars.

Mookie Betts. Shohei Ohtani. The list goes on, so take your pick.

The Dodgers unleashed every penny they needed to in order to build another star-studded cast that dominated throughout the year. We said it last year and we'll say it again: stars matter.

SAN DIEGO PADRES
You can never have too many relievers.

Like Cleveland, San Diego built a behemoth of a bullpen that will shorten games and lock down wins this October. In addition to capable stars in the lineup, the Padres feature Tanner Scott and Jason Adams as exceptional arms in front of talented closer Robert Suarez (36 saves) to seal the deal in the postseason.

ATLANTA BRAVES
Stay adaptive with depth.

The Braves lost Ronald Acuña Jr. to injury in 2021. They did enough with the roster to win the World Series. Will the same script play out again in 2024?

NEW YORK METS
Chemistry and environments matter.

The Mets were a disaster in the spring with five straight losses. Then, some magic from a McDonald's character, the "OMG" musical performance from Jose Iglesias and an MVP campaign from Francisco Lindor got the Mets into the dance on the final day of the season.

The Red Sox don't need musicians to win, though Teel moonlights as a DJ. Nonetheless, culture matters and Boston must embrace the clubhouse to win.